Tuesday, August 31, 2010

The library recently decided that new books should be shelved by Public Services. While shelving is not my favorite of tasks, it does have it's own benefits. Unbeknownst to me, Martha Stewart recently published a book just for me. What you can't see in the image is the fine print. Real title: Martha Stewart's Cupcakes for Dana to Make for Chriss. Angela later pointed out that in even finer print it says (and Angela).

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Ok, so I admit that I am SLIGHTLY... um... silly... bizzare... creative... ORNERY. Yep, that's the word! I give lots of kids tours at the library, and I always find it important to let kids know people's names and practice what we should say when we need help and and blah blah blah.

Sometimes we even tour the bookmobile. After all, who doesn't think a traveling library is just... like...the coolest? We also practice saying HI to Mr. Eric our bookmobile driver. hehehe No, I'm serious. We smile big, do a half circle wave and say HI MR. ERIC in a bubbly voice. After all, Mr. Eric doesn't get to give tours, but we need to show our love.... Right?

So a few weeks ago, I gave a tour to a fairly large group of homeschoolers... and for some reason, they kept giggling... the whole tour. I did check and there was no broccoli stuck in my teeth. Several parents told me later that their kids think it's HILARIOUS that I say "friends" and "silly geese." Hey, we've all got our quirks.

ANYWAY, a mom came up last week and said that her kids practiced ALL DAY and giggled through dinner one night at just the thought of going on the bookmobile and saying "HI MR. ERIC!!!!" And do you know what? They did it!

Eric's response

Chriss put you up to this, didn't she?

** snicker**

Well, we couldn't just leave it right there, could we? Nope. They've been given a new mission for the next bookmobile excursion. I think I happened to mention his love of dancing....

Monday, August 23, 2010

Ok, I have a slight confession to make. This blog post has NOTHING to do with libraries or silly songs.

So, um, recently, I've become addicted to YouTube. Aside from Dr. Pepper, I don't think I've ever been addicted to anything before, so as far as addictions go, I think this YouTube one is fairly safe. ANYWAY... I found this cool new band called Sons of Admirals. FYI: Their names references an old English theater troop. They only have one song together, but all 4 guys are teens and record independently and YouTube silly stuff fairly often.

ANYWAY Does anyone find it funny how many times I say "ANYWAY?" Charlie is in charge of their videos and webpage and today released a new video... where he becomes a superhero and wears tights.

Now my question is... WHY do all these people get to be superheroes, yet I can't get my own Super Chriss action figure? HUH??? Life just doesn't seem fair anymore.

Oh, and my favorite quote from the whole video....

And as someone who has an entire drawer in their bedroom dedicated just to dressing up clothes....

Saturday, August 21, 2010

So last year I was invited to this cool conference in San Francisco. YAY for winning cool trips... especially when they happen on my bday.... So attendees had to stand up, introduce themselves and tell some random fact that no one would ever guess about them. Mine? That I randomly break out into song and dance.

Now for those of you who follow my blog or know me in person, I'm sure you're not surprised. BUT from other people there, I got a lot of funny looks. Totally randomly my sister Amy also won a trip to the same conference and she was like... "Um, NO, for real, she does." Of course I had to then perform the banana chant... in front of a bunch of people... and on camera. BTW, if no one has ever seen a room full of adults perform the banana chant, it's a sight to see.

ANYWHO, so I have decided I want an iTouch. Not because I can listen to music or surf the Internet in random places sans laptop or even because I'm a Mac fan. No, the whole reason why I want an iTouch is because I found this cool app that if you sing a song into it, it will automatically put it to music. Um instant record. I randomly told a few coworkers thinking they would be so excited and like "OMG, that is SOOOO you and I can't wait to hear!" Well, they did say "OMG," but they sounded rathered pained when they did....

So this morning, I was surfing YouTube and came across an old video by John Green, author of 2010 Gateway nominee Paper Towns. John and his brother Hank cofounded the Nerdfighters Movement, and Hank like myself is a little... um...obsessed...dedicated to breaking out into silly songs. It's like we're twins or something.

Sometimes John doesn't appreciate his brother's talent so much....

Hank, I want to begin by congratulating your rap song yesterday. Uh, I laughed a lot. I wasn't always laughing with you, but I laughed a lot.

It so reminded me of a few certain people who get tears in their eyes when they see me doing my thing.BTW, randomly cool fact.... John is totally obsessed about cataloging his home library. Fiction is separated out by living and dead authors.

So further proof that Hank and I are like total twins... or something....

Monday, August 16, 2010

PA SYSTEM: May I have your attention please. The library will be closing in 5 minutes. Please take any books and other materials to the checkout desk now. Again, the library will close in 5 minutes.

YOUNG CHILD: Whaaaaaaahhhhhh! I don't wanna go!MOM: But honey, the library is closing. And if you don't leave, the library monsters will eat you.

OK, so I've never head a mom tell their two year old that a library monster will eat them, but parents do tell their kids some weird stuff to get them to leave.... Like the mom that said we would lock the kids in and not let them leave until morning... which actually made the child want to stay even longer.

So.... What really happens when libraries close for the night?Unfortunately, childrens and teen librarians at Oshawa Public Libraries let out secrets slip. Evil Canadian librarians!

Sunday, August 15, 2010

And BTW, yet ANOTHER person bragging that they got to go to ALA and I DID NOT. **humph** I think we should boycott libraries worldwide until TPTB decide to send me, too! I mean, who wouldn't want me there?!?!? I'm beginning to think it's a conspiracy to keep me away from my Mo....

My favorite quote of it all.... "This conference is kinda like the highlight of the young adult literature social calendar." And again, it mentions how superheroes are in libraries... even if they aren't wearing capes and superhero masks... like me.

Maybe I need to again petition for my superhero action figure...

Plus, he got to meet another of my favorite authors David Levithan.

Oh, and BTW, whomever goes to ALA next year... without me AGAIN..., I soooo want that gavel swag.

Sunday, August 8, 2010

Known Fact: Libraries struggle to get teens into the library. I have tried my best to bring in the masses with Summer Reading Dances, pet rock training schools, and good old fashioned bribery, but it's just too hard to compete the the average teen's busy life style....

Or it WAS....

I found the solution. No need to thank me. Ok, if you REALLY want to, do so by nominating ME for the I LOVE MY LIBRARIAN AWARD. No pressure.... Have you started the application process yet? **sigh**

Oh yeah..... Solution. Wait for it....

Wait for it....

Library Flash Mob Dance Parties! **wild applause**

Did I hear skepticism in your applause? You don't quite believe it will bring teens in en mass? **sigh** Skeptics. Just check out what happened at the Seattle Public Library earlier this summer.....

Sunday, August 1, 2010

What would happen if librarians could have a super power? Think they would use it for good?

Librarians at NSLS were asked just that. What super power would you have??? Answers run the gambit from flying to invisibility to "brewing coffee in my mouth." Anyone think Greg has a twin in Illinois? Kinda scary thought, I know.

Convince Sarah that yes, we really DO need to have the Pigeon Party come to town and perform "Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus" just for me... and have Mo in the audience... and then the audience would BEG me to do my rendition of DLTPDTB... and then I would get standing ovations... and Hollywood contracts... and Mo would dedicate his next Pigeon book to me....Mo Willems adores me. It's TRUE, I tell you. A person can't just make this stuff up....

Be awarded the I LOVE MY LIBRARIAN award due to thousands of patrons nominating me as the greatest library lady... ever.